Conveyer mechanism



June 15, 1937. 7 O KELLY 2,084,090

GONVEYER MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 4, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 0. .KELLY CONVEYER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 4, 1955 June 15, 1937.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VII/l/I/ Ill/A June 15, 1937. o. KELLY CONVEYER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 4, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 15, 1937. o. KELLY CONVEYER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 4, 1935 4 SheetsSh eet 4 Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates generallvto novel conveyer mechanism for conveying loose material such as for example, and more particularly, lump coal, either to merely convey the material from one location to another or to screen it in such conveying movement, the invention being useful, by way of examples, in constructions in which the material is to be conveyed along a substantially horizontal path or along a path of slight inclination, as for example in coal loaders, loading and screening machines, loading boom machines, conveyers and screeners, either of the travelling type or the stationary type.

Certain of my objects are to provide a novel,

simple and inexpensive construction of conveyer mechanism for loose material provided either as a screening means or a mere conveyer chute; to

provide in an apparatus embodying a plurality of such mechanisms, for the so balancing of the shocks produced in the operation of the apparatus as to practically eliminate vibrations; to provide such a mechanism of a type of construction whereby it may by slight change be rendered suitable for performing different kinds of work and useful in different types of apparatus; to provide transfer apparatus for comparatively fragile, loose, material, such as for example coal, whereby the breakage of the loose material commonly incident to the use of transfer apparatus as hitherto used will be greatly reduced; and

other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a coal screening apparatus having a substantially horizontal screen-conveyer section, and constituting one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view, taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, of the end of the apparatus of Fig. 1

at which the mechanism for actuating the conveyer elements of the apparatus, is located.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken at the line 4 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the drive mechanism shown in Fig. 4, with a portion 50 thereof removed to disclose interior details.

Figure 6 is a section taken at the line 6 on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure '7 is an enlarged view in longitudinal sectional elevation of the left-hand end of the 55 apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and .3, the section being taken at the line I on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 8 is a similar view of the other end of the apparatus, likewise taken at the line I on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 being a continuation of Fig. '7 and with the latter showing the entire apparatus in longitudinal sectional elevation.

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of a small loading boom apparatus, preferably designed to rescreen the material from a storage bin and to load trucks therewith, the same constituting another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a detail of the mechanism of Fig. 9, the section being taken at the line H) on Fig. 9 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 11, a view in longitudinal sectional elevation of a coaling boom apparatus constituting still another embodiment of my invention and of a type having a section at the receiving end of the apparatus confined to move horizontally and along which the loose material is carried, and a swinging section for the delivery end and along which the material is conducted, the section being taken immediately inside of one of the opposite side portions of the frame.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the structure comprises a framework l2 carrying a hopper 03 having a reciprooable trough-shaped bottom M, a chute section 15 through which the loose material, as for example coal, to be transferred, and in this particular instance, re-screened, flows to the hopper 53, a screen conveyer chute l6 and a screenings collector and conveyer trough ll located below, and in vertical alinement with, the screen portion of the conveyer chute l6 and comprising the perforated bottom l8 of this chute, the trough I 1 having a terminal trough section l9 hinged thereto at its discharge end as represented at 20.

The bottom M of the hopper l3, the screen conveyer chute Hi and the screenings collector and conveyer I! all of which are shown as horizontally disposed, except for the slight downward tilting of the conveyer trough section I 9, are provided with surfaces, shown as presented by wear-resisting horizontal plates 2|, 22, and 23, at which these reciprocable elements are supported on wheels 24, 25, and 26, respectively, journalled on the framework 12.

The mechanism shown for reciprocating the elements l4, l6, and I1 comprises a main drive shaft 21 journalled on the framework l2 and having sprocket chain connection 28 with a jack shaft 29 journalled on the framework and carrying an eccentric device 30, the strap portion 3| of which is pivotally connected at 32 with one end of the hopper bottom I4, by a link 33.

As will be understood from the foregoing, the material supplied to the'hopper I3 through the chute I5 is fed from the former to the screen conveyer l5 by reciprocating the hopper bottom 54 through the medium of the mechanism above described, the movement of the hopper bottom M to the right in Figs. 1-3 and '7 serving to advance the loose material in the hopper and the resistance afforded by the material in the chute 5 to retrograde movement of the material advanoed in the chute l3, insuring the dropping of the fed material from the discharge end of the hopper bottom I4 upon the movement of the latter to the left in Fig. 7.

The mechanism for actuating the conveyer sections I6 and I! is of such construction as hereinafter described that the speed of travel thereof during the latter part of their forward or feed strokes and the first part of their backward or return strokes is accelerated to such degree that the inertia of the material on the conveyer sections, upon the initial return movements of such sections, is not overcome thereby resulting in the movement of the conveyer sections rearwardly relative to the material thereon and producing feed of the material by the conveyer sections.

The conveyer-actuating mechanisms referred to and both of the same construction and provided for actuating the conveyer troughs I6 and I1, are represented at 34 and 35 and each comprises a broad faced eccentric 36 rigidly keyed at 31 to the drive shaft 21 and provided around its central part with a ring spur gear 38, either cast integral with the eccentric 36 or made separate therefrom and rigidly attached thereto.

Surrounding the eccentric 36 is an eccentric yoke 39 shown as split in two crosswise in the usual manner as represented at 40, with the front half of the yoke split lengthwise as indicated at 4|, to facilitate assembly of the parts of the yoke.

Bronze bushings represented at 42 and secured to the eccentric yoke or strap 39 to be none rotatable relative thereto are interposed between the eccentric 36 and this yoke at opposite sides of the gear 38 and are provided to take the wear of the relatively moving parts. Wear is compensated for by placing'shims between the two halves of the bushings rather than by the usual method of placing shims between the two halves of the eccentric yoke which would disturb the pitch lines of the gears.

Provision is made .for running the ring gear 38 and the eccentric 39 in lubricant by hollowing out the yoke 39 around the ring gear as represented at 43 and providing oil-retainer plates 44 at opposite sides of the eccentric yoke at its lower end, to form a receptacle for oil or grease.

Each eccentric mechanism 34 and 35 also comprises a spur pinion 45 meshing with the gear 38 and rigidly secured to a shaft 46 journalled in the front end of the yoke 39, the shaft 46 being provided at its ends with eccentrically dis- "posed pins 4's forming cranks to which actuating or connecting rods 48 and 49 are connected, one pair of these rods being pivotally connected with one end of the screen conveyer chute l6, as represented of one of these rods at 50, and the other pair pivotally connected with one end of the trough conveyer H, as represented of one of these rods at 5|. The ratio of ring gear 38 and pinion 35 is as 2 to 1; hence the cranks 41 make two rotations to one of the eccentric 36.

Cast on the lower part of each eccentric yoke 39 is a lug 52 to which one end of a guide bar 53 is rigidly riveted as represented at 54, the bar 53 having a portion 55 which extends alongside of, and between, the pair of connecting rods 48 and 49 with which it is associated, and contains a horizontally elongated guide slot 33 into which a pin 57 secured to these rods and carrying a rotatable sleeve 58 extends. The bars 53, one provided for each pair of connecting rods 48 and 69, as shown, thus serve to maintain these rods in alinement with the centers of the eccentrics 36, which otherwise would break around the cranks 47.

As will be noted, rotation of the eccentrics 36 rotates the spur gears 38 connected therewith and also drives the eccentric yokes 39, and the gears 38 actuate the pinions 45 meshing therewith, thereby rotating-the cranks 41. Thus the lengthwise movement of the rods 48 and 49, and consequently the conveyer elements l6 and ll, is produced by the action of the eccentrics 36 as modified by the cranks 41 which rotate at a speed different from that of the eccentrics, in the construction shown at such speed as to cause them to make two complete revolutions while the eccentrics are making one revolution. This movement of the rods 48 and 49 is such in the construction shown as to cause the conveyer elements l5 and IT to move during the latter part of the feed stroke and the first part of the return stroke at a speed greater than during the remaining portions of these strokes, thereby permitting the inertia of the moving material as moved on the feed stroke, to effect a feeding action of the loose material on the conveyers.

Referring particularly to the actuation of the conveyer screen element I6 and assuming that this element is at the beginning of its feed stroke (effected by movement of the element to the right in the drawings) in WhiChgPOSitlOIl the eccentric drive mechanism 34 therefor would be in the position shown in Figs. 4-6, clockwise rotation of the eccentric 36 in Figs. 4 and 5 throughout the first quadrant, namely, to the position shown in Fig. 7, causes the cranks 41, through the gear connections 38 and 45, to rotate 180 from the position shown in these figures. The eccentric 33, which is operated at uniform speed, thus shifts the yoke 39 and rods 48 and 49 associated therewith-to the right in the drawings, but as the cranks 41 in this movement move from their extreme right-hand position (Figs. 4-6) to extreme left-hand position, namely, through 180, the rods 48 and 49 are advanced a distance equal only to the throw of the eccentric 38 less the throw of the cranks 41. Thus assuming the eccentric to have an 8 inch throw and the cranksa 1% inch throw, the rods 53 and 49 will be moved 2 inches in this first quadrant movement of the eccentric 36 and at relatively low speed.

The rotation of the eccentric 36 clockwise through the second quadrant causes the cranks 41 to rotate 180 back to the position shown in 4-6 and as these cranks in these operations rotatein the direction of movement of the eccentric 36, the rods 48 and 49 will be moved a distance equal to one-half the throw of the eccentric plus the throw of the cranks, namely, in the particular example given 5 inches to the end of their feed stroke and thus at a greatly accelerated speed compared with the speed of movement of these rods during the first part of the feed stroke.

In the movement of the eccentric 36 through the third quadrant the cranks 4'! move from the position shown in Figs. 4-6 throughout 180 and thus the rods 48 and 49 are moved to the left in the drawings at accelerated speed, inthe particular example given throughout 5 /2 inches; and in the rotation of the eccentric through the fourth quadrant, in which movement the cranks 41 move 180 to the position shown in Figs. 4-6, the rods 48 and 49 are moved at a much reduced speed, moving, in the particular example given, 2 inches. By providing the mechanism as described the connection between the eccentric 36 and the conveyer element to be ope'ratedis of non-constant length, variable under the action of the mechanism to produce acceleration of the speed of movement of the conveyer during such portions of the cycle of reciprocatory movement thereof as to permit the inertia of the moving material to efiect a conveying action, it being noted that a relatively high speed of approach to, and recession from, the endof the forward or feed stroke, which causes the material being conveyed to move forward by the momentum built up therein, and a relatively low speed of approach to the beginning of the feed stroke and throughout the beginning of the feed stroke, thereby preventing any backward movement of the loose material, is effected; 'these several speed changes being effected progressively and smoothly.

The operation of the conveyer element I! by the eccentric mechanism 35, to deliver the fine particles discharged through the screen l8 to the chute l1, corresponds with the actuation of the conveyer element l6 as above described, except that the conveyer movement of the element I1 is to the left in the drawings (instead of to the right as in the case of the conveyer element Hi), the material discharging onto the conveyer section l9 and thence discharging from thelefthand end of the inclined end thereof the eccentric mechanism 35 to this end involving the setting of the cranks 41 thereof at 180 from the position shown in Figs. 445 in the position therein shown of the eccentric 36 relative to the drive shaft 21, which will cause the conveyer element [1 to move throughout the latter part of its feed stroke to the left in the drawings and the fore part of its return stroke, at accelerated speed, as compared with the first part of the feed stroke and the last part of the return stroke.

Referring to the construction shown'in Figs. 9 and 10, it comprises a storage bin 54, shown as permanently fixed, provided to receive the loose material to be transferred, as for example coal, and having a discharge'outlet portion 55 provided with a sloping bottom 56.

Below the bin 54 is a containing'frame 51 of structural steel surmounted by a bracket frame 58 on which. a vertically swingable and reciprocable chute 59, shown as having a screen bottom portion 6!], and located beneath the outlet of the bin 54, is supported at wheels, one of which is shown at El ,iournalled to the screen chute 59 at opposite sides thereof, the Wheels 6| being supported on runways on the frame 58, one only of which is shown at 62. The outer end of the chute 59 is engaged by any suitable means for raising and lowering it into the desired inclined position, aportion of a means for this purpose being represented at 63.

. Provision is made for reciprocating the chute section 59 in accordance with the general prin ciple of operation above described in connection with the conveyer sections l6. and I! modified, however, to regulate the propulsion force given to the loose material thereon as the inclination of the swinging chute is increased or diminished.

In this arrangement the chute 59 is provided with rearwardly extending bars 64 at opposite sides thereof provided at their extremities with heads 65 in which the journal ends 65 of a swivel block 61 are journalled, the block 51 having an r pening therethrough at which it is slidable up and down on a lever 68 fulcrumed on a shaft 69 journalled in the bracket frame 58.

The lever 68 is rocked, to effect the desired feed action of the conveyer chute 59, by eccentric mechanism represented generally at M and of the same general construction, and operating in the same way, as the eccentric mechanisms 34 and 35, the drive shaft for this mechanism being represented at H, the eccentric thereon at 12, the eccentric yoke at it. and one of the pairs of cranks, operated from the eccentric 12 through the gears (not shown), at 14, these cranks being connected, respectively, with a pair of rods which are pivoted at E5 to a depending lug ll on the sliding swivel block 57. The bars 15 are shown as guided by a modification of the guide means of the preceding figures and comprising a bar '18 rigidly secured to the yoke 13 and extending along the bars 15 and connected with the latter, between the cranks l4 and the swivel block Bl, by a link 19 pivoted to the bars l5 and ,18.

Since chute 5% is free to move in either direction except for its attachment to the lever 68 through the block 61, any change of inclination of the chute will automatically adjust the swivel block to the lever 68.

As will be understood from the foregoing the greater the inclination of the chute 59 the more the amplitude or amount of travel is reduced.

Thus the mechanism is rendered automatically regulable to avoid travel or flow of the material in the chute 59 greater than that required for any degree of tilt thereof, to the end of avoiding breakage of the loose material.

Where the work required to be performed demands heavier equipment than that shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and a conveyer section at the receiving end confined to horizontal movement, in addition to a swinging conveyer section at the delivery end, is required, as is usual where a large tonnage is loaded in railroad cars, a construction of the form shown in Fig. 11 is preferred.

This construction comprises a reciprocable trough conveyer 8G resting at wear plates 8! on wheels 82 journalled in the sides of a frame 83 and adapted to receive the loose material to be transferred supplied thereto as from a bin such as shown at 54, 55 in Fig. 9.

Below the trough and positioned to receive the discharge therefrom is a conveyer chute 84 shown as pivotally connected at the rear of its bottom, as represented at 85, to the lower ends of hanger bars at opposite sides thereof, one being represented at 86, these bars being pivotally supported at their upper ends at opposite sides of, and laterally beyond, the chute section 84, on a cross bar 8'! carried by the framev 83, whereby the chute 8'1 may not only rock on its pivot 85 but may also move bodily lengthwise along the machine by swinging on the pivot 81.

The trough 80 and the chute 84 are actuated to effect the feeding of the material therealong to the right in the drawings in accordance with the principle of operation of the conveyer sections l6, l1, and 59 (the propulsion effect produced by the actuation of the chute 84 being automatically regulable in accordance with the degree of tilt to which the operator sets this chute as in the case of the chute 59 of Figs. 9 and 10).

To this end the trough 80 and chute 84 are associated with; geared eccentric mechanism 88 and 89, respectively, of the same construction as the mechanism and driven from a main drive shaft 90.

The bar portion of the eccentric mechanism-88 and corresponding with the bar portion 48, 49 of the mechanism 35, is represented at 9! and is pivotally connected with the trough member as represented at 92.

portion 48, 49 of the mechanism 35) are piv-' otally connected, as represented of one of the bar portions 95 and 94, to the lower ends of rock levers 95. The levers 95 are located at opposite sides of, and laterally beyond, the trough 80 and are pivotally supported at their upper ends on a cross bar 96 carried by the frame 83. Slidable along the curved portions of the bars 95 are swivel blocks, one only of which is shown at 91, having pivots, one of which is represented at 98, towhich rearwardly extending spaced apart arms 99 on the chute 84 and located at opposite sides of, and laterally beyond, the trough 80, are pivotally connected. Said arms as shown may be integral extensions of the side members of said trough 84 and are disposed in the rear of that end of the bottom of the trough 84 terminating'adjacent the pivot 85.

The rock levers are preferably of the flat bar type and curved as shown which is desirable in this relatively heavy equipment as the curving of the levers permits the force to be applied along the radii of the curves.

vThe guide means for the bars 9| and 93 are of the same type as those shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and comprise rigid bars I00 and HH and links I92 and I03 connecting these bars, respectively, with the bars 9| and 93.

If desired one only of the eccentric mechanisms 89 may be provided, in which case it would be desirable toprovide the bar portion 93 as a single bar having a fork at which it would connect with the levers 95.

As will be understood, the bottom of either, or both, of the members 89 and 84 may be perforated or provided of screen form, as illustrated at It!) of a part of the bottom of the chute 84, where rescreening of the loose material is desired.

As will be understood from the foregoing, a machine constructed in accordance with my invention is not only simple of construction but may be built at low cost.

Furthermore, the structure lends itself, particularly where a plurality of conveyer elements are provided as in the case of certain of the illustrated machines, to the balancing of the shocks of the conveyer elements and thus minimizing vibration.

By changing the throw of the cranks to which 1 the connecting rods are connected, the feed. action of the material may be altered to adapt the machine for different work.

While I have illustrated and described certain particular constructions embodying my invention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the construction shown may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of my invention, and as an example of additional forms in which the invention may be embodied, and wherein two conveyer elements, as for example screen elements, are employed, particularly where these elements are of light weight, these elements may be driven by a single one of the eccentric mech-. anisms, such as the mechanism 35 and the balancing of one of the elements against the other effected by setting the cranks of the eccentric mechanism (the cranks 41 of the mechanism shown) at degrees apart and connecting one of the screen-conveyingelements referred to to each of the cranks. What I claim as new, and desire to secure b Letters Patent, is: 1. Conveyer mechanism comprising a reciprocableelement for supporting material to be conveyed, .and mechanism for reciprocating said element comprising a drive member having an eccentric, a driven means operated thereby, connecting means between said driven means and said element for controlling operation of the latter comprising a rotary member on said driven means geared to said eccentric, and an eccentric connection between said element and said rotary member.

2. Conveyer mechanism comprising a reciprocable element for supporting material to be conveyed, andmechanism for reciprocating said element comprising a drive member having an eccentric, a-driven means operated thereby, con,- necting means between said driven means and said element comprising a rotary'member on said driven means geared to said eccentric and operating toldrivesaid rotary member at a differential speed relative to said drive means, and an eccentric connection between said element and saidrotary member.

3. Conveyer mechanism comprising a reciprocable element for supporting material to be conveyed, and mechanism for reciprocating said element comprising a drive member having an eccentric, a strap member about and driven by said eccentric, gear teeth on said eccentric, con- 1 necting meansfor said element, a rotary memher on said strap member having gear teeth meshing with the teeth on the eccentric and operative to drive said rotary member at a greater speed than said eccentric, and a crank connection between the connecting means and said'rotary member.

4. In combination, a conveyer element supported for to and fro movement lengthwise thereof and adapted to be adjusted into different angular positions, and means for imparting such to and fro movement to said element as to eifect the propulsion of material to be conveyed comprising a rock member, a drive member, a reciprocable member actuated by said drive member, a rotary member on said reciprocable member driven by said drive member, a second reciprocable member eccentrically connected with said rotary member and connected with said rock member for rocking the latter and a member slidable on said rock member toward and away from its pivot and operatively connected with said element and automatically adjustable along said rock member in the movement of said element into difierent angular positions.

5. In combination, a conveyer element supported for to and fro movement lengthwise thereof and adapted to be adjusted into different an gular positions, and means for imparting such to and fro movement to said element as to eifect the propulsion of material to be conveyed comprising a rock member, a drive member including an eccentric, a reoiprocable member driven by said eccentric, a gear on said eccentric, rotary member on said reoiprocable member and driven by said gear, a second reciproca-ble member ec-centrically connected with said rotary member and connected with said rock member for rocking the latter and a member slidable on said rock member toward and away from its pivot and operatively connected with said element and automatically adjustable along said rock member in the movement of said element into different angular positions.

6. In combination, a drive member including an eccentric, an element reciprocated by said eccentric, a gear on said eccentric, a rotary member on said element driven by said gear and a second reciprocable element eccentrically connected with said rotary member,

'7. In combination, a drive member, a strap member, means to drive the strap member eccentrically from the drive member, a rotary member journalled on the strap member in driving relation to the drive member, a reciprocating member and an eccentric driving connection between the rotary member and reciprocating memher.

8. In combination, a drive member, a strap member, means to drive the strap member eccentrically from the drive member, a rotary member journalled on the strap member in driving relation to the drive member, a reciprocating member, an eccentric driving connection between the rotary member and reciprocating member, a guide arm extending from the strap member, and a sliding connection between the guide arm and reciprooatory member.

ORIN KELLY. 

